Method for providing a hinged guarantee closure a hinged guarantee clossure and container with a hinged guarantee closure

ABSTRACT

A hinged guarantee closure is produced by being injection moulded in the closed state, i.e., with a guarantee seal. The closure is injection moulded with an associated ring member for connection to the container on which the closure is to be used. The ring member is separated from the rest of the closure by an axial gap which is spanned by a hinge portion and a guarantee connection. The closure comprises a cap with an integral closing member for cooperation with an opening in the container.

The invention relates to a method for providing a hinged guaranteeclosure for a container, which closure comprises a cap having anintegral closing member which can be brought into closing cooperationwith an opening in the container.

The invention also relates to a method for providing a hinged guaranteeclosure on a container opening, which closure comprises a cap having anintegral closing member which can be brought into closing cooperationwith the container opening.

The invention also relates to a hinged guarantee closure for an openingin a container, which closure comprises a cap having an integral closingmember which can be brought into cooperation with the opening.

Furthermore, the invention also relates to a container having a hingedguarantee closure for an opening in the container, which closurecomprises a cap having an integral closing member which can be broughtinto closing cooperation with the opening.

A number of so-called guarantee closures are known, i.e., closures ofthe type where the user can see whether the closure is intact and thatno third person has had access to the contents of the container on whichthe closure is used. A very common type of closure is one comprising abase member with an opening and designed for mounting on the containerin question, which has a separate opening, a cap hinge-connected to thebase member and an integral closing member in the cap which, in theclosed position, cooperates with a corresponding opening in the basemember. Such closures are as a rule injection moulded with the cap swungout, i.e., open, to the side of the base member. After removal from themould, the base member of the closure is placed on the container. Withthe cap swung in, i.e., in the closed position, a connection is providedbetween the cap and the base member, diametrically opposite the hinge,for example, by welding. This connection provides an assurance orguarantee that the closure has not been opened before the purchaser oruser opens the closure for the first time.

This prior art has a number of drawbacks. A substantial drawback is thatthe closure is moulded in the said swung-out state. This means that themoulding surface or pressure surface will be about twice the size of theclosure surface when mounted and closed, and that the mould tool and theprocess machine in which the tool is arranged must be scaled upcorrespondingly. Moreover, before or after its mounting on thecontainer, the closure must be brought into the closed state, whichrequires an extra work process. The provision of the assurance orguarantee connection also requires a separate work process.

The known embodiment having an inverted cup-shaped base member alsoentails extra consumption of material.

EP 0309396 describes an integral closure that is manufactured in theclosed position, where the closure comprises an upper part and a lowerpart that are radially spaced by means of a gap extending in the jointsurface which is traversed by a film hinge and an element that producesthe snapping effect. The gap can also be traversed by a guaranteeconnection.

However, full size caps with an integral hinge and assurance/guaranteeconnection that are moulded in the closed position are not found in theprior art. Full size caps are highly advantageous since the tube canstand in a relatively stable manner on the cap, which means that thetube takes up little space. Tubes that do not have full size caps arestored in a horizontal position and they therefore require more space.There is therefore a need for an improved closure of the guarantee type.

The object of the invention is to be able to produce a hinged guaranteeclosure using a smaller moulding tool (moulding machine) in amaterials-saving manner, which closure should be capable of beingattached to a container in a single work process.

According to the invention there is therefore proposed a method forproviding a hinged guarantee closure for a container, which closurecomprises a cap having an integral closing member which can be broughtinto closing cooperation with an opening in the container, characterisedin that the closure is injection moulded in the closed state, i.e., witha guarantee seal, the closure being injection moulded in such a formthat the moulded closure will include the cap with the integral closingmember and a ring member, hinge-connected and guarantee-connected to thecap, but otherwise axially spaced relative to the cap, for connection tothe container.

It is especially advantageous if the ring member is injection mouldedwith a coupling part designed for cooperation with a coupling part onthe container.

In an especially preferred embodiment, the ring member can be injectionmoulded with an internal circumferential snap edge as coupling part.

According to the invention there is also proposed a method for providinga hinged guarantee closure on a container opening, which closurecomprises a cap having an integral closing member which can be broughtinto closing cooperation with the container opening, characterised inthat the closure is injection moulded in the closed state, i.e., with aguarantee seal, the closure being injection moulded in such a form thatthe moulded closure will include the cap with the integral closingmember and a ring member, hinge-connected and guarantee-connected to thecap but otherwise axially spaced relative to the cap, and made having acoupling part, and that the container is provided around its openingwith a coupling part that cooperates with the coupling part of the ringmember.

It is especially advantageous if the spaced ring member is made havingan internal circumferential snap edge, the container then being providedwith a circumferential groove around the opening, adapted to the snapedge, and that the moulded closure is pressed by means of its ringmember onto the container so that the snap edge is pressed to snap intothe circumferential groove.

In one embodiment of the invention, the closure may be injection mouldedso that the hinge is arranged in a radially indented portion of the cap.The indented portion can advantageously be made outwardly concave.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the closure may be injectionmoulded so that the hinge is in the periphery of the cap, thus ensuringthat no parts of the hinge project beyond the outer diameter of the cap.When the cap is to be placed on the container, it is highly advantageousthat no elements of the product project beyond the outer diameter of thecap. In addition, this gives the cap a neat appearance.

A particular advantage with these embodiments of the hinge is thatprojecting hinge portions are avoided and at the same time thefavourable snap-over effect is obtained when the cap is opened and swungabout the hinge.

According to the invention, there is also proposed a hinged guaranteeclosure for an opening in a container, which closure comprises a caphaving an integral closing member which can be brought into cooperationwith the opening, characterised in that it comprises a cap with theintegral closing member and a ring member, hinge-connected andguarantee-connected to the cap but otherwise axially spaced relative tothe cap, for connection with the container around the opening.

It is especially advantageous if such a hinged guarantee closure is ableto have incorporated in the ring member a coupling part designed forcooperation with a coupling member on the container.

It is especially advantageous if said coupling part is in the form of aninternal circumferential snap edge in the ring member.

The novel, hinged guarantee closure may according to the inventionadvantageously have a hinge that is arranged in a radially indentedportion of the cap. The indented portion may be shaped so as to beoutwardly concave.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the closure can be injectionmoulded so that the hinge is in the periphery of the cap, thus ensuringthat no parts of the hinge project beyond the outer diameter of the cap.When the cap is to be put on the container, it is highly advantageousthat no elements of the product project beyond the outer diameter of thecap.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the cap is manufactured as afull size cap.

In one advantageous embodiment of the invention, the guaranteeconnection is shaped so that it is easy to see whether the guaranteeconnection has already been broken or not, i.e., whether the cap hasbeen opened or not.

According to the invention there is also proposed a container having ahinged guarantee closure for an opening in the container, which closurecomprises a cap having an integral closing member which can be broughtinto closing cooperation with the opening, characterised in that theclosure is injection moulded in the closed state, i.e., with a guaranteeseal, and comprises a cap with the integral closing member and a ringmember, hinge-connected and guarantee-connected to the cap, butotherwise axially spaced relative to the cap, and having a coupling partdesigned for cooperation with a coupling part on the container.

It is especially advantageous if the coupling part on the ring membercan be in the form of an internal circumferential snap edge, thecontainer having a groove extending around the opening into which thesnap edge is snapped.

Because the closure is injection moulded in the closed state, that iswith the cap in the closed position, it is possible to mould the closurein a smaller machine than otherwise is usual, because the moulding isdone with a smaller projected surface, in reality about half of theotherwise existing moulding surface or pressure surface. A considerablematerials saving is made because the base member is now reduced to aring member and the integral closing member cooperates directly with thecontainer opening. The guarantee connection is formed during mouldingand does not therefore require a separate work process.

The shaping of a coupling part on the ring member means that the closurecan simply be put in place and locked on a suitable container, i.e., acontainer having a corresponding coupling part. If an internalcircumferential snap edge is used as coupling part on the ring member,the closure can simply be pressed in place on a suitable container,i.e., a container having a corresponding snap-in groove.

Moving the hinge axis of the hinge radially inwards will enable the cap,when opened, to be swung to a stable open position, to the side of theopening in the container.

In an especially preferred embodiment, the hinge is arranged in theperiphery of the cap.

A particular advantage of the new design of the closure, in addition tothe possibility of using a smaller moulding machine and the materialssaving obtained, is that the injection moulded guarantee closure will be“ready” and can be placed directly on a suitable container withoutadditional work processes.

It is also highly advantageous if the cap can be made in the form of afull size cap. It is also advantageous that no elements of the capproject beyond the outer diameter of the actual cap.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the guarantee connectionis made so that it is easy to see whether the guarantee connection hasbeen broken or not, i.e., whether the cap has been opened or not.

The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to thedrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a cross section through a prior art embodiment of a closurehaving an inverted cup-shaped base member;

FIG. 2 shows a closure according to the invention when shut or closed;

FIG. 3 shows the same closure from the opposite side;

FIG. 4 shows the closure when open, with the cap swung out;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the closure in FIGS. 2-4 fittedon a container;

FIG. 6 shows a second closure according to the invention;

FIG. 7 is a view of the closure in FIG. 6, seen from the opposite side;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view through the closure in FIGS. 6 and 7;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view like that in FIG. 8, but with the cap brokenloose and swung upwards, so that the container opening is exposed;

FIG. 10 shows a third closure according to the invention; and

FIG. 11 shows the closure in FIG. 10 with broken guarantee connection.

FIG. 1 shows a prior art closure for a container 1. The closure 2comprises an inverted cup-shaped base member 3 in the bottom of which isa circular-cylindrical collar 4 for cooperation with the neck 5 of thecontainer 1. In the bottom of the inverted cup-shaped base member 3 isan opening 6 which, in the fitted state shown, will be flush with theopening 7 in the container 1. The base member 3 is hinge-connected 8 tothe cap 9. It is a particular object of the invention to reduce the useof material in the base member 3 by reducing the base member to a ringbody, thus also avoiding the “bottom” of the base member and the collaror support 4.

The closure according to the invention shown in FIGS. 2 to 5 comprises acap 11, an integral closing member 12 in the cap, and a ring member 13with an internal snap edge 14. The cap 11 is connected to the ringmember 13 by an integral hinge 15, with no portions projecting beyondthe periphery of the closure, and with an integral guarantee connection16, arranged diametrically opposite the hinge 15. The guaranteeconnection 16 is shown broken in FIG. 4.

FIG. 2 shows a highly advantageous embodiment where the integral hinge15 is arranged in the periphery of the cap so that when the cap isclosed no parts of the hinge 15 project beyond the outer diameter of thecap. This is highly advantageous during the subsequent process in whichthe cap is fitted on a container. In addition, it gives this cap anattractive and neat design.

FIG. 5 shows the closure placed on a container 17. The container 17 hasa top wall 18 having an opening 19. The guarantee closure is pressed inplace on the container 17, the snap edge 14 being brought intocooperation with a corresponding groove 20 in the container 17. Theclosing member 12 that is integral with the cap 11 passes into theopening 19 in the container 17 and closes this opening 19. It will beunderstood that when the cap 11 is swung into the open position, as inFIG. 4, the closing member 12 will move out of the opening 19 and unstopit. The section in FIG. 5 is outside the hinge 15 and the connection 16respectively, to show the axial gap 21 between the cap 11 and the ringmember 13.

The closure according to the invention shown in FIGS. 2 to 5 isinjection moulded using a tool that comprises a housing and a coremember that is insertable into the housing. The core defines a mouldchamber together with the housing. This mould chamber is divided by acollapsible core into two chambers, i.e., a chamber in which the cap isformed and a chamber in which the ring member is formed. A collapsiblecore is introduced into the mould chamber and this partly closes thechambers around the core off from one another, so that a mould sectionis created in which the hinge or guarantee connection will be formed.The collapsible core will form the axial gap between the cap and thering member. This involves the application of injection mouldingtechnique that is known per se.

The snap edge 14 is produced in that the core is provided with acircumferential recess. The elasticity of the moulding materials allowsthe core to be withdrawn without any difficulty. Optionally, a more orless collapsible core may also be used, as will be known to the personskilled in the art of injection moulding.

After the injection moulding, there is a guarantee closure which can bebroken by the first-time user, by breaking the connection 16. This isdone in a common manner in that the cap 11 is swung about the hinge 15.

The closing member 12 is shown in this case as a pin which passes intothe opening 19 in the container. Of course, the closing member may be ofanother suitable design, and may, for instance be in the form of anannular projection which on closing comes to rest around an elevationaround the opening.

FIGS. 6 to 8 show a second embodiment of the closure according to theinvention. The closure shown in FIGS. 6 to 9 comprises a cap 22, anintegral closing member 23 in the cap 22, and a ring member 24 having aninternal snap edge 25. The cap 22 is connected to the ring member 24 byan integral hinge 26 and by an integral guarantee connection 27,arranged diametrically opposite the hinge 26. The guarantee connection27 is shown broken in FIG. 9.

In FIGS. 7 to 9 the closure is shown fitted on a container 28. Thecontainer has a top wall 29 having a more or less spout-shaped opening30, which in the closed position will cooperate with the closing member23 in the cap 22. The closure has been pressed in place on the container28, the snap edge 25 being brought into cooperation with a correspondinggroove 31 in the container 28.

Between the cap 22 and the ring member 24 there is an axial gap 32 whichon the ring member side is limited by a smooth end edge 34 on the ringmember, and on the cap side is limited by a notched edge 35 on the cap.

The object of the special embodiment of the gap 32 is to limit thecompression of the gap with associated load on the hinge and theguarantee closure when the closure is pressed onto the container, whilstin alternating portions along the gap there is a greater distance whichgives more material in the projections that are arranged on thecollapsible core used during an injection moulding of a closure of thetype shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

As shown, the hinge 26 is arranged in a radially indented portion 36 ofthe cap wall. Advantageously, the hinge 26 follows an outwardly concavecurve. A design of this kind is favourable in order to give a snap ordead point effect when the cap 22 is swung about the hinge 26, i.e.,opened as shown in FIG. 9. The same advantageous effect is obtained aswith the known material hinges which comprise portions projecting beyondthe periphery of the cap. For reasons more related to design, the gap 32has been drawn up somewhat, or into the cap 22 at the hinge 26. Inaddition, the smooth ring member edge 34 is flush with the containerbody, so as to prevent remains of the contents from becoming stuckthere.

To facilitate the opening of the cap, it is provided in a known way witha slightly indented finger portion 37. The actual guarantee connection27 is shown in particular in FIGS. 7 and 8.

The closure shown in FIGS. 6 to 9 can be injection moulded using acollapsible core so that the shaping of various undercuts etc. ispermitted. The use of an injection mould with collapsible core is wellknown to the skilled person, but as an example reference willnevertheless be made to U.S. Pat. No. 3,247,548.

Of course, instead of the snap edge 14 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) and the snapedge 25 (see FIGS. 8 and 9), other suitable coupling means may be used.For instance, the use of cooperating screw threads which can beinjection moulded without any difficulty by using a collapsible corewould be possible, or, for example, a bayonet fastening. However, theillustrated snap edge connection, which could optionally be reversed, isadvantageous because the closure can then simply be pressed axially ontothe container and snapped into place.

FIGS. 10 and 11 show another advantageous embodiment of a hingedguarantee closure comprising a cap 38, and a ring member 39 axiallyseparated relative to the cap, where there is another design of theguarantee connection 40 from which it can be seen whether the guaranteeconnection 40 has been broken or not. In FIG. 10 the closure is shownwith an unbroken guarantee connection 40, i.e., that the cap has notpreviously be opened. FIG. 11 shows the same closure as in FIG. 10, butnow with a broken guarantee connection 40. This design of the guaranteeconnection 40 makes its clear to a user whether the cap has already beenopened or not.

A major advantage obtained with the invention is the simplified andmaterials-saving closure embodiment compared, for example, with theknown embodiment shown in FIG. 1, as it can be seen that by using a ringmember, the bottom of the known inverted cup member is avoided and thisresults in materials saving. The projected surface or pressure surfacein the injection moulding tool is also greatly reduced compared with theprior art, to about half, with the associated advantages as regards thesizing of tools and moulding machine.

Another major advantage obtained with the invention is that the integralcap can be made as a full size cap where none of the elements of the capproject beyond the outer periphery of the cap.

1. A method for providing a hinged guarantee closure for a container,said closure comprising a cap having an integral closing member forclosing cooperation with an opening in said container, and a ring memberfor connection to said container around said opening, characterised inthat the guarantee closure is injection moulded and formed in the closedstate, i.e., with a guarantee seal, the closure being injection mouldedin such a form that the moulded closure will comprise said cap and saidring member connected by a hinge element and at least one guaranteeconnection, but otherwise axially spaced; the hinge element is made inthe periphery of the cap.
 2. The method of claim 1, characterised inthat the ring member is injection moulded with a coupling part intendedfor cooperation with a coupling part on the container.
 3. The method ofclaim 2, characterised in that the ring member is injection mouldedhaving an internal circumferential snap edge.
 4. The method of claim 1,characterised in that said guarantee connection is generally formedflush with the cap and ring member exterior surfaces.
 5. The method ofclaim 1, characterised in that the guarantee connection is made so thatit is clear whether the guarantee connection has been broken or not. 6.A method for providing a hinged guarantee closure on a containeropening, said closure comprising a cap having an integral closing memberfor closing cooperation with the container opening, characterised inthat the closure is injection moulded in the closed state, i.e., with aguarantee seal, the closure being injection moulded in such a form thatthe moulded closure will comprise the cap with the integral closingmember and a ring member, hinge-connected and guarantee-connected to thecap, but otherwise axially spaced relative to the cap, the hinge is madein the periphery of the cap, and the closure is made having a couplingpart, and the container is provided with a coupling part that cooperatestherewith.
 7. The method of claim 6, characterised in that the ringmember is made having an internal circumferential snap edge, that thecontainer is provided with a circumferential groove around the opening,adapted to the said snap edge, and that the moulded closure is pressedwith its ring member onto the container so that the snap edge is pressedto snap into the circumferential groove.
 8. The method of claim 6,characterised in that the guarantee connection is made so that it isclear whether the guarantee connection has been broken or not.
 9. Themethod of either claim 6, characterised in that the guarantee connectionis generally formed flush with the cap and ring member exteriorsurfaces.
 10. The method of claim 6, characterised in that the hinge ismade in a radially indented portion of the cap.
 11. The method of claim9, characterised in that the indented portion is shaped so as to beoutwardly concave.
 12. A hinged guarantee closure for an opening in acontainer, said closure comprising a cap having an integral closingmember for cooperation with said opening, and a ring member forconnection to the container around said opening, characterised by: saidcap and ring member being connected by a hinge element and at least oneguarantee connection; the hinge element is formed in the periphery ofthe cap; and said ring member is otherwise being axially spaced relativeto said cap.
 13. The hinged guarantee closure of claim 12, characterisedby said guarantee connection being positioned substantially diametricalof said respective hinge element.
 14. The hinged guarantee closure ofclaim 12, characterised by said cap and ring member generally havingsimilar external diameters.
 15. The hinged guarantee closure of claim12, characterised in that said hinge element comprises a springstructure, whereby the cap is biased in either one of an open positionor closed position relative to said ring member.
 16. The hingedguarantee closure of claim 12, characterised by a coupling part on thering member.
 17. The hinged guarantee closure of claim 16, characterisedin that the coupling part on the ring member is an internalcircumferential snap edge.
 18. The hinged guarantee closure of claim 12,characterised in that the guarantee connection is generally formed flushwith the cap and ring member exterior surfaces
 19. The hinged guaranteeclosure of claim 12, characterised in that the guarantee connection isformed in the periphery of the cap and ring member.
 20. The hingedguarantee closure of claim claim 12, characterised in that the hinge isarranged in a radially indented portion of the cap wall.
 21. The hingedguarantee closure of claim 20, characterised in that the hinge is curvedconcavely.
 22. The hinged guarantee closure of claim 12, characterisedin that the guarantee connection is formed so that it is clear whetherit has been broken or not.
 23. A container having a hinged guaranteeclosure for an opening in said container, said closure comprising a caphaving an integral closing member for cooperation with said opening, anda ring member for connection to the container around said opening,characterised by: said guarantee closure being injection moulded andformed in the closed state, i.e., with a guarantee seal; said cap andring member being connected by a hinge element and at least oneguarantee connection; the hinge element is made in the periphery of thecap; said ring member otherwise being axially spaced relative to saidcap and having a coupling part; and said container being provided with acoupling part for cooperation with said ring member coupling part. 24.The container of claim 23, characterised in that the coupling part onthe ring member is an internal circumferential snap edge and that thecontainer has a groove running around the opening into which the snapedge is snapped.
 25. The container of claim 23, characterised in thatsaid guarantee connection is generally formed flush with the cap andring member exterior surfaces
 26. The container of claim 23,characterised in that the guarantee connection is formed so that it isclear whether it has been broken or not.
 27. The container of claim 23,characterised in that the hinge is arranged in a radially indentedportion of the cap.
 28. The container of claim 27, characterised in thatthe hinge is curved with outward concavity.
 29. The container of claim23, characterised by said cap, ring member, and container generallyhaving similar external diameters.